Lately, there has been a lot of talk about Gwen Stefani and her 4 backup dancers a.k.a. her "Harajuku Girls." Different people have expressed different opinions on this. However, I have to say that I haven't been able to come to a final conclusion about whether Gwen Stefani's representation of Harjuku girls is right or wrong.
Most North Americans probably had never even heard of the word Harajuku until Gwen Stefani decided to adapt Harajuku culture. Now, I say “adapt” because not only are her "Harajuku Girls" not Harajuku girls, but they don't represent Harajuku girls very well either. It's been mentioned that these 4 Asian girls are "dressed like girls with Americanised Harajuku." [1] The way that these girls are portrayed in the media isn't how real Harajuku girls act and dress. So I can understand people's anger towards this representation of Asians and Harjuku culture. However, it is just the way that Gwen Stefani has been able to incorporate some Harajuku culture into her own American culture.
But then agian, would this fly if these 4 girls were of another race; say black? For sure there would be people out there who would automatically think slaves.
However, we have to know that these girls chose to work with Gwen Stefani, they are indeed getting paid big bucks and really they are just backup dancers. As Lauren said in class, they're "actresses;" and are just “acting”. So what's the big deal? When people say, "She's even named them "Love," "Angel," "Music" and "Baby"”[2] (basically given them pet names), you have to consider the fact that many celebrities don't go by their real names. Just look at Diddy, Madonna and so many others. So what's different about this case?
Also, different people are being stereotyped all the time. Of course that's not exactly right, but I'm saying that this isn't a first. Other Asians are also stereotyped in North American media. Just look at movies like Kill Bill.
Then again, you do have to consider that, many people, especially Asians will think that ''at least it is a measure of visibility,” which, according to American comedian Margaret Cho (who is a real Asian)“is much better than invisibility.''[3]
These "Harajuku Girls" aren't allowed to talk and Gwen Stefani always says that they're not really there but just her imagination. Not only does this make you question how sane Gwen Stefani really is, but I think it definitely crosses the line. This is practically saying that Love, Angel, Music and Baby aren't even human. Talk about disrespect! And because these girls are Asian and represent Harajuku girls, in a way it's disrespecting both of these groups as well. No wonder some people are mad.
So is Gwen Stefani even trying to represent "Harajuku" culture or is she just using 4 Asian girls who North Americans will believe to be Japanese and slapping the name “Harajuku” on them so that she can exploit them for her own good? Well, I think it's obvious that she's exploiting them. If Stefani really wanted North Americans to know about a subculture that she's so inspired by, then she'd probably let them talk. Even if they're not really true Harajuku girls, they might know some relevant information about the subculture. After all, they are representing Harajukus. She might also have actually learned a close pronunciation of Japanese words that she uses in her songs because it's been mentioned that, "In her songs, Stefani mispronounces the word Harajuku. Instead of the Japanese pronunciation, Stefani spells “hair-ajuku,...” So far, to me, she has just come across as ignorant.
Oh, and not to mention that her clothing line is called L.A.M.B. It just seems like Stefani, through her backup dancers, songs and tours, wanted North Americans to get the basic idea that her 4 backup dancers are Harajuku girls and as she says in on eof her songs, Harajuku girls are “super Kawaii (cute)." So by naming her clothing line after these so called “Harajuku” girls, she is trying to convey the message that her clothing line is “super kawaii".
There are also Harajuku Dolls available on the market. That would be great and all, but there's a problem with them. They don't look too differently than the Gwen Stefani doll, especially their skin colour. This is not only not the skin colour of Gwen's Harajuku girls, but it's not typically the skin colour of most Asians.
Most North Americans probably had never even heard of the word Harajuku until Gwen Stefani decided to adapt Harajuku culture. Now, I say “adapt” because not only are her "Harajuku Girls" not Harajuku girls, but they don't represent Harajuku girls very well either. It's been mentioned that these 4 Asian girls are "dressed like girls with Americanised Harajuku." [1] The way that these girls are portrayed in the media isn't how real Harajuku girls act and dress. So I can understand people's anger towards this representation of Asians and Harjuku culture. However, it is just the way that Gwen Stefani has been able to incorporate some Harajuku culture into her own American culture.
But then agian, would this fly if these 4 girls were of another race; say black? For sure there would be people out there who would automatically think slaves.
However, we have to know that these girls chose to work with Gwen Stefani, they are indeed getting paid big bucks and really they are just backup dancers. As Lauren said in class, they're "actresses;" and are just “acting”. So what's the big deal? When people say, "She's even named them "Love," "Angel," "Music" and "Baby"”[2] (basically given them pet names), you have to consider the fact that many celebrities don't go by their real names. Just look at Diddy, Madonna and so many others. So what's different about this case?
Also, different people are being stereotyped all the time. Of course that's not exactly right, but I'm saying that this isn't a first. Other Asians are also stereotyped in North American media. Just look at movies like Kill Bill.
Then again, you do have to consider that, many people, especially Asians will think that ''at least it is a measure of visibility,” which, according to American comedian Margaret Cho (who is a real Asian)“is much better than invisibility.''[3]
These "Harajuku Girls" aren't allowed to talk and Gwen Stefani always says that they're not really there but just her imagination. Not only does this make you question how sane Gwen Stefani really is, but I think it definitely crosses the line. This is practically saying that Love, Angel, Music and Baby aren't even human. Talk about disrespect! And because these girls are Asian and represent Harajuku girls, in a way it's disrespecting both of these groups as well. No wonder some people are mad.
So is Gwen Stefani even trying to represent "Harajuku" culture or is she just using 4 Asian girls who North Americans will believe to be Japanese and slapping the name “Harajuku” on them so that she can exploit them for her own good? Well, I think it's obvious that she's exploiting them. If Stefani really wanted North Americans to know about a subculture that she's so inspired by, then she'd probably let them talk. Even if they're not really true Harajuku girls, they might know some relevant information about the subculture. After all, they are representing Harajukus. She might also have actually learned a close pronunciation of Japanese words that she uses in her songs because it's been mentioned that, "In her songs, Stefani mispronounces the word Harajuku. Instead of the Japanese pronunciation, Stefani spells “hair-ajuku,...” So far, to me, she has just come across as ignorant.
Oh, and not to mention that her clothing line is called L.A.M.B. It just seems like Stefani, through her backup dancers, songs and tours, wanted North Americans to get the basic idea that her 4 backup dancers are Harajuku girls and as she says in on eof her songs, Harajuku girls are “super Kawaii (cute)." So by naming her clothing line after these so called “Harajuku” girls, she is trying to convey the message that her clothing line is “super kawaii".
There are also Harajuku Dolls available on the market. That would be great and all, but there's a problem with them. They don't look too differently than the Gwen Stefani doll, especially their skin colour. This is not only not the skin colour of Gwen's Harajuku girls, but it's not typically the skin colour of most Asians.
So what message does this send to kids, especially Asians who play with these dolls? Well, it's probably going to make them get the idea that the featured skin colour-white-is better than their own. Why do I jump to such a conclusion? Well, because this is what happened during the short film directed by Kiri Davis. In it, a bunch of young African-American children were given two dolls: a black one and a white one. They were then told to choose which one they preferred. The doll that these black children chose as “nice” and fun to play with was the white one. This goes to show how what children see affects what they think abut themselves.
"According to the Jan/Feb 2006 edition of Blender magazine, American comedian Margaret Cho [an Asian] has labeled Stefani's Harajuku Girls a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women."[1] I agree with the fact that Stefani is "re-enforcing" stereotypes of Asian women, but I also think that she's CREATING stereotypes of Harajuku girls in North America.
[1]
Harajuku Girls. Harajuku Girls. 2005. 15 June 2008 http://www.chinatownconnection.com/harajuku-girls.htm.
[2]
Ahn, Mihi. Gwenihana. 2008. 15 June 2008 http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/index.html.
[3]
Slezak, Michael. Margaret Cho's Not Laughing about Gwen's Harajuku Girls. 2 Nov. 2005. 15 June 2008.
Unknown artist. “Harajuku Dolls.” No date. Online image. Art of the Steal. 15 June 2008.
Unknown artist. “Harajuku Girls.” No date. Online image. D-MEN TES. 15 June 2008.
"According to the Jan/Feb 2006 edition of Blender magazine, American comedian Margaret Cho [an Asian] has labeled Stefani's Harajuku Girls a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women."[1] I agree with the fact that Stefani is "re-enforcing" stereotypes of Asian women, but I also think that she's CREATING stereotypes of Harajuku girls in North America.
[1]
Harajuku Girls. Harajuku Girls. 2005. 15 June 2008 http://www.chinatownconnection.com/harajuku-girls.htm.
[2]
Ahn, Mihi. Gwenihana. 2008. 15 June 2008 http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/index.html.
[3]
Slezak, Michael. Margaret Cho's Not Laughing about Gwen's Harajuku Girls. 2 Nov. 2005. 15 June 2008
Unknown artist. “Harajuku Dolls.” No date. Online image. Art of the Steal. 15 June 2008.
Unknown artist. “Harajuku Girls.” No date. Online image. D-MEN TES. 15 June 2008.
